U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) launched a new round of military strikes against targets in Iran on Saturday night, escalating tensions in the Middle East after another attack on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The operation marked the third wave of U.S. strikes since President Donald Trump declared that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran was “over” during the NATO Leaders’ Summit in Ankara, Turkey earlier this week.
According to CENTCOM, the latest military action came in direct response to an Iranian attack on the Cyprus-flagged commercial vessel GFS Galaxy. The U.S. military said the strikes were intended to impose costs on Iran for targeting civilian maritime traffic in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
CENTCOM reported that the Iranian attack caused significant damage to the vessel, including severe flooding and destruction in the engine room. One crew member was reported missing following the incident. The military did not release a complete list of the Iranian targets struck during Saturday’s operation but emphasized that the mission was a measured retaliatory response.
